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Featured Kids Items

Make merry this holiday season at West Branch's Celebrations Around the World. Discover different customs, traditions and rituals in an immersive environment, engaging with presenters to learn about holiday festivities from across the globe. This is a family event for all ages.Along with this special event, the West Branch will be open to the public on Saturday, December 10, 2016 from noon - 4pm, for all regular services. Take advantage of these special Saturday hours for computer access, picking up holds and browsing reading selections.

Children ages 5-11 come to learn and practice basic cooking skills, along with creating simple and yummy dishes with help from a special guest from Grandma Vera's Cafe and Bakery. Call 812-235-2121 for more details.

Steves parents just had a new baby named Theo. Steve loves his new brother, but hes worried; Theo is very sick and the doctors cant seem to figure out what is wrong. After he is stung by a wasp, Steve begins having strange dreams. The beings in his dreams promise to fix Theo, but Steve soon begins to suspect their motives are not so friendly. This book has some spine-tingling moments for anyone with a fear of bugs, but it may also change your perspective on family and what it means to be broken.

Young friends Thane and Ciena witness their mutual affection grow, even while Imperial might and Rebel resistance pull them in opposite directions. From their early days learning to pilot together on Jelucan to training at the Imperial Academy on Coruscant, Lost Stars explores how personal connections are strained when political lines draw down around these characters, sending them on adventures that will change alliances and hearts. Gray maneuvers within George Lucas' established timeline to link events from original trilogy series with Lost Stars' expansive plot. Doing so, she creates a powerful Star Wars story that connects the first six films with the newest addition, The Force Awakens, with new characters and perspectives showing a side of galactic conflict readers will find surprisingly fresh.

Rodeo Red only needed her faithful companion Rusty the hound dog. When Sideswiping Slim comes into the picture there is a disturbance at the ranch because Slim becomes attached to Rusty. Rodeo Red soon has to figure out a plan that will reunite her with her hound dog without upsetting the Sheriff and her Deputy. This book is great to read out loud and shows some of the struggle that can occur when there are other kids to share with.

Have you ever tried to sell someone the Eifel Tower? Have you ever tried to convince people that you gave birth to a bunch of rabbits? Have you ever told people that your house was haunted? If not, you might just be shocked by some of the tall tales documented in this book. You’ll find four major types of liars here: people who made up impossible stories, tried to cheat people out of money, pretended to be someone they weren’t, and people who made claims about supernatural events. Each lie is described in just a few pages and is accompanied by interesting related facts and humorous illustrations so it’s a fast, fun read.

What are a lion, a shark, and a wolf to do? Can they change their carnivorous ways? This Young Hoosier book starts with the disclaimer “No herbivores were injured, physically or emotionally in the making of this product…” Three misunderstood friends of the animal kingdom band together to try share their feelings and try to reform from their hungry ways. Can they get the other animals to like them and not be afraid of them? Read this clever and humorous book to see if they succeed in changing or simply come to accept themselves.

What happens when bullies repeatedly knock down a sand castle? Find out when Karen and her extremely cute and extremely supportive friends take matter into their own hands…with the help of HEAVY MACHINERY! This book is a good story of standing up for yourself but not holding a grudge. EXTREMELY well done!

When the city of Ember was first built, it sat atop overflowing vaults filled with provisions that would see the citizens through many years. Now, 200 years later, supplies are running out: light bulbs are hoarded against the darkness, colored pencils cost several dollars a piece, and even certain canned foods are growing scarce. Lina and Doon are classmates who come to see the dire situation Ember's inhabitants face once they're forced into adulthood and work. Are there answers hidden in Doon's soggy sewers or whispers for Lina to hear as she runs messages between the city's elite? DuPrau's story moves swiftly and sweeps readers into this mysterious adventure like the river rushing beneath Ember.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library introduced us to a group of 12 year old competitors ready to answer Mr. Lemoncello’s challenge: escape from the library and win epic prizes. Now, the rest of the nation wants in on the competition! Teams from around the United States have descended on Alexandriaville for Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics. Will Kyle Keeley and his team take the gold once again? Read to find out!

Toddler Tales

Main Library

Youth Services Program Room

Tuesday, February 7

10:00 am to 11:00 am

Parents
and caregivers, bring your toddler in for fun, engaging stories, songs, and
crafts. A 30 minute optional playtime
will also be offered at the end of storytime. Please call 232-1115 for
additional information.

Preschool Storytime

Main Library

Youth Services Program Room

Wednesday, February 8

10:00 am to 11:00 am

Bring your preschoolers and join us for story time, filled
with learning and exciting activities each Wednesday in February and
March!

Infant Storytime

Main Library

Youth Services Program Room

Monday, February 13

10:00 am to 11:00 am

Infants younger than 18 months and their parents are welcome at this engaging lapsit program. Laugh, sing, and bounce your way through storytime from 10-10:30 am. Baby playtime will continue from 10:30-11 am.

Toddler Tales

Main Library

Youth Services Program Room

Tuesday, February 14

10:00 am to 11:00 am

Parents
and caregivers, bring your toddler in for fun, engaging stories, songs, and
crafts. A 30 minute optional playtime
will also be offered at the end of storytime. Please call 232-1115 for
additional information.

Preschool Storytime

Main Library

Youth Services Program Room

Wednesday, February 15

10:00 am to 11:00 am

Bring your preschoolers and join us for story time, filled
with learning and exciting activities each Wednesday in February and
March!

Community Gaming Initiative

Main Library

LifeLong Learning Center

Saturday, February 18

12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Calling all gamers! If you're interested in tabletop, role playing, or card gaming, stop by between 12-4 pm to explore new games, play old favorites, and challenge new people. Feel free to bring your favorite games (PG-13, please). Open to community members of all ages and skills.

Infant Storytime

Main Library

Youth Services Program Room

Monday, February 20

10:00 am to 11:00 am

Infants younger than 18 months and their parents are welcome at this engaging lapsit program. Laugh, sing, and bounce your way through storytime from 10-10:30 am. Baby playtime will continue from 10:30-11 am.

Toddler Tales

Main Library

Youth Services Program Room

Tuesday, February 21

10:00 am to 11:00 am

Parents
and caregivers, bring your toddler in for fun, engaging stories, songs, and
crafts. A 30 minute optional playtime
will also be offered at the end of storytime. Please call 232-1115 for
additional information.

Preschool Storytime

Main Library

Youth Services Program Room

Wednesday, February 22

10:00 am to 11:00 am

Bring your preschoolers and join us for story time, filled
with learning and exciting activities each Wednesday in February and
March!

Infant Storytime

Main Library

Youth Services Program Room

Monday, February 27

10:00 am to 11:00 am

Infants younger than 18 months and their parents are welcome at this engaging lapsit program. Laugh, sing, and bounce your way through storytime from 10-10:30 am. Baby playtime will continue from 10:30-11 am.